Apple believed to be trying to deal with cobalt miners

Orville Steele

Cobalt is a critical ingredient in the design and manufacture of lithium-ion batteries, and the rapid growth in the number of electric cars is expected to squeeze supply. Apple has been trying to end child labor in mines that produce cobalt for the company and said it is working with non-government entities (NGOs) in the country to stop it. Bloomberg notes that about a quarter of global cobalt production is used in smartphones and that Apple is keen to shore up its cobalt supplies to have enough for sufficient production of iPhone and iPad batteries.

Apple is seeking contracts to secure several thousand metric tonnes of cobalt a year for five years or longer, according to one of the people, declining to be named as the discussions are confidential. Carmakers are also racing to lock up cobalt contracts as they prepare to make more electric vehicles. Bloomberg reports the company has been discussing the issue with miners for over a year, and the company has not yet decided whether it will proceed with a deal.

Amnesty International published a report in January 2016 about cobalt mines, saying that tech companies and vehicle manufacturers aren't doing enough to prevent child labor in the Democratic Republic of the Congo - the country is responsible for 50 percent of global cobalt production.

An Apple spokesman declined to comment.

Talking to reporters in London last December, Glasenberg said the company had held talks with Apple, Tesla (TSLA.O) and Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE) as part of ongoing discussions with industrial clients.

Canada defeated in a shootout
The loss was the Canadian men's first at the Games since Vancouver 2010 when they lost 5-3 to the U.S.in preliminary-round play. Canada's Wojtek Wolski scored first in the shootout, but was matched immediately by Koukal.

Cobalt prices have risen to $80K per tonne from just above $20K per tonne two years ago. Cobalt is also mined in China, Russia, Canada and Australia, but we guess that would be more pricey.

Cobalt is a byproduct of copper and nickel mining, used until recently to harden steel and before its ability to efficiently conduct electricity was discovered.

According to report by Amnesty International in 2016, close 60 percent of the world's cobalt supply comes from the Democratic Republic of the Congo mined by approximately 20 percent under-aged children with hand.

Such companies are also facing growing public pressure to use cobalt that has not been procured using supply chains that involve human rights violations, something Apple has received scrutiny for in the past.

Trump to meet with Florida high school studentsFeb 21, 2018 - 08:10
United States President Donald Trump slammed the Federal Bureau of Investigation for missing Florida school shooter's red flags. One teacher said they were told that Cruz should not be allowed on the school campus with a backpack. "We call B.S".

Child missing from Florida found in MaconFeb 21, 2018 - 08:04
Authorities are still looking into the incident, including if Johnson was taken against her will and if Byrns abused the girl. Investigators say the pair headed north, and they tracked Johnson's phone to the Holiday Inn Express on Harrison Road.

Lieberman Confirms Israel Destroyed Hamas Terror TunnelFeb 21, 2018 - 08:04
Palestinian resistance group Hamas has dismissed US accusations for the group of causing a humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip. Earlier Monday, Israel's military struck what it said was an underground terror site in Gaza, in response to rocket fire.

USA vows investigation into Syria attack involving RussiansFeb 21, 2018 - 08:01
At issue is a February 7 incident in Deir ez-Zour province, where pro-Syrian regime forces and US -backed forces have been converging to eliminate Syria's last remaining pockets of Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) fighters.

WWE: Two huge matches CONFIRMED for RAW ahead of Elimination ChamberFeb 20, 2018 - 20:35
Competing for one hour, five minutes, Rollins defeated both Roman Reigns and John Cena in the first two parts of a Gauntlet match. Seth Rollins and John Cena battle it out at WWE SummerSlam at Barclays Center of Brooklyn on August 23, 2015 in New York City.

Donald Trump Jr. arrives in India to help sell apartmentsFeb 20, 2018 - 20:35
Nonetheless, the development has already clocked up sales worth almost US$80 million, according to a statement released on Monday. Donald Trump Jr. for conversation and dinner" for a booking fee of roughly $38,000 in American dollars.

ANC to vote Zuma out in ParliamentThursdayFeb 18, 2018 - 06:58
Malema said Zuma ruined the future of Magaqa and countless other young leaders because they dared to challenge him. Malema admitted he felt robbed by the fact that he would not be leading a motion of no confidence against Zuma.